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Former Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Ban Ki-moon ​is elected as Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) on April 9. (Photo: EPA/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Former Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Ban Ki-moon was elected as Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) on April 9, replacing former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. Ban Ki-moon is a veteran diplomat of the Republic of Korea and he served as the 8th UN Secretary-General. Earlier, he assumed the role of RoK Minister of Foreign Affairs. The BFA, which runs from April 8 to 11 in Boao, a town in the southern island province of Hainan, is an important forum. This year’s event, themed “An Open and Innovative Asia for a World of Greater Prosperity”, brings together more than 2,000 leaders from Governments, businesses and academia to discuss the future role of Asia. Challenges encountering Asia from security to environment and from competitiveness and globalisation process … [Read more...] about Former UN chief elected as Chairman of Boao Forum for Asia

A peacekeeper was shot dead by militants in northern Mali on Friday, the UN's mission to the country said, the latest in a spate of deadly attacks on "Blue Helmets" in the conflict-torn country. "Today at 7:00 pm (1900 GMT) two unidentified gunmen opened fire on a MINUSMA vehicle in Gao City," the mission, known by its acronym MINUSMA, said in the statement. The peacekeeper died on the way to hospital in Gao, the main city in northern Mali, the statement added. Mali is one of the most dangerous U.N. missions, with more than 150 peacekeepers killed since 2013. One hundred and two of those killed died due to hostile acts by militants. Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the head of MINUSMA, said he was "outraged that once again peacekeepers are being attacked". MINUSMA has a 12,500-strong force in the country, backed by a further 4,000 French troops who are on an anti-jihadist mission. The attack in Gao came a day after two U.N. peacekeepers were killed and 10 more wounded during a mortar attack on … [Read more...] about UN says peacekeeper shot dead in northern Mali

Viet Nam News JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday suspended a resettlement deal for African migrants faced with deportation, just hours after his office had announced the agreement with the UN refugee agency. "I’ve decided to suspend implementation of this accord and to rethink the terms of the accord," Netanyahu wrote on his Facebook page, saying his move was in response to criticism of the deal. Israel had announced a deal with the UNHCR to cancel a controversial plan to deport African migrants and replace it with one that would see thousands sent to Western countries. The new accord would at the same time allow thousands more of the mainly Sudanese and Eritrean migrants to remain in Israel at least temporarily. The migrants have become a political issue, with religious and conservative politicians portraying the presence of Muslim and Christian Africans as a threat to Israel’s Jewish character. A group of residents of southern Tel … [Read more...] about Netanyahu suspends Israel-UN deal on resettling African migrants

UNITED NATIONS — Myanmar has agreed to a visit by the UN Security Council after months of resistance, but it remains unclear whether ambassadors will be allowed to go to Rakhine state, the body’s president said on Monday. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have been driven out of Rakhine state and are living in crowded refugee camps in Bangladesh since a Myanmar army operation in August. After the council proposed a visit in February, Myanmar’s government said it was "not the right time", but it has now given the green light. Peruvian Ambassador Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, who holds the council’s rotating presidency, said details of the itinerary had yet to be finalised, including whether the government would allow the council to visit Rakhine state. "Obviously, we’re interested in Rakhine state," said Meza-Cuadra. "There’s nothing better than a visit on the ground to see how it is." Britain, Kuwait and Peru are organising the council’s visit, which would … [Read more...] about Myanmar agrees to UN Security Council visit

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Sunday attended the first concert in Pyongyang for over a decade by South Korean entertainers, including a K-pop girlband, the latest gesture of reconciliation before a rare inter-Korean summit. The visit, described by many as a cultural charm offensive by the South, came as a diplomatic thaw quickens on the peninsula after months of tensions. The 120-member group, 11 musical acts as well as dancers, technicians and martial artists, gave one concert on Sunday with another set for Tuesday. Kim and his wife, a former singer herself, came to watch Sunday's show, making him the first leader of the North to attend a concert by South Korean performers. Kim shook hands and took photos with the stars backstage, saying inter-Korean cultural events should be held more often and suggesting another event in the South Korean capital this autumn, pool reports said. The young couple were seen clapping their hands during the two-hour event, also attended by Kim's … [Read more...] about Kim Jong Un attends rare concert by South Korean pop stars